Author
Topic: Serinn in Wonderland (Serinn and Anon) (Read 423 times)

The building stuck out like a sore thumb. When compared to the neighboring business fronts of shady tattoo parlors, dirty dive bars, and agencies of low morals, the white face of the building home to the Nona Cybernetics clinic practically glowed in the Smuggler's Moon gloom. It was as if the smog did not dare to touch the glossy plastic finish. Panels that checkered the office's exterior would swap from blank white to still images of examples of cosmetic cybernetic modifications and other procedures. Some images even took clips from actual operations, such as showing robotic appendages reaching in to the open skull of a patient.

Any who braved entry would be greeted to a waiting room that seemed to be bleached clean on a regular basis. The stylistic choice of furniture was not as sanitary with many of the seats and coffee tables being statues of humanoids in postures to imitate chairs and table surfaces. All were a similar glossy white to the outside, having the look of the manikins you would expect to see in clothing stores. They were all nude as well, though perhaps to accommodate their uses the chairs had proper seat padding on the laps, and the coffee tables and a surface of clear glass to support small art figures and e-mag pads. A hologram panel to the side of the waiting room was showing off a fashion show from some far reach of the galaxy, though likely a recording with the current state of galactic communications.

Finally, the receptionist sitting behind the desk. Perhaps the feature which would draw the attention of prospective patients was that the woman who would greet them was half droid. If this information were to be shared outside the clinic, the original observer must clarify that she was literally half of a droid. The receptionist's right side looked like a normal human, even with normal facial expressions you would expect of a human. However, as if her skin had been completely removed from her left side, she had the shell of a white, plastic droid with visible metal joints. Though the human side was properly garbed in a pale-blue nurse's attire, her droid side was void of clothing. Certainly this was not your run of the mill cybernetics chop shop.

'Nar Shaddaa. Best stay alert,' was the predominant thought that lurked in the forefront of the lone blond's mind as her path led towards the destination she had chosen. Even though Serinn had spent time on the Smuggler's Moon in the past, it was still not a place for the unwary to tread lightly. Or at all. The majority of her attention was focused outward for potential hostility, though despite this, it did not take very long to arrive at the building in question. Though incredulity was the nearly thirty year-old's initial inward reaction at how the building looked.

The building stuck out like a sore thumb, making the solitary blonde wonder just how they kept looters away. Though she gave a mental shrug and proceeded towards the entrance, taking note of the other establishments nearby. When compared to the neighboring business fronts of shady tattoo parlors, dirty dive bars, and agencies of low morals that lined the block in both directions, the white face of the building home to the Nona Cybernetics clinic practically glowed in the Smuggler's Moon gloom. It was as if the smog did not dare to touch the glossy plastic finish, and a mental note was made of the surprising state of cleanliness, given the area. Panels that checkered the office's exterior would swap from blank white to still images of examples of cosmetic cybernetic modifications and other procedures. Some images even took clips from actual operations, such as showing robotic appendages reaching into the open skull of a patient, causing Serinn to peer closer in interest before entering.

Entering, the woman who considered herself a Hapan-born Corellian lifted an eyebrow at the decidedly unique construction of the furniture found in the waiting room, though her attention swept over the rest of the decor to focus on the woman behind the desk. Such as she was. Not that it would be easy for most people to determine where she was actually looking, with her pupil-less silver-blue-hued ocular replacements, but it was still possible if you were perceptive enough. Approaching the desk behind which the other cyborg sat, Serinn leaned one elbow on it for a moment or two before addressing her.

"Why me of course, Silly." The cyborg giggled with an almost sickening sweetness. "It's what reception desks were invented for." She practically glowed with enthusiasm, at least on her human side. The nurse's droid half could imitate skeletal movement but with a lack of muscle or meat it would be hard to convey the same perkiness.

"We do have a catalog of upgrades and mods, however if you do need a consultation Mister Nona should be free in a few minutes. He loves to do custom work!" Even while she smiled, the nurse's teeth transitioned from pearly enamel to polished plastic along the middle seam. "It should only be a moment, the good doctor is just renegotiating some fees."

When Serinn had first entered, she may have only heard muffled noise from the back room. Sounded more like a dentist office than a body mods clinic. Though as if on cue to the nurse's mentioning, the tone became furious and audible through the closed doors.

"Tell me where the krayt dragon pearls are before I kill you and use your corpse for parts!" The threat was soon followed by the sounds of stifled grunts and struggling.

Serinn was silently mulling over the response given to her inquiry, when the remark about "renegotiating some fees" piqued her interest...mere microseconds before the words "kill you" captured the entirety of her attention. A moment was spent on an internal debate consisting of the safety of her health vs. her moral code before a decision was reached, and she began moving towards the closed doors, one hand snapping up and inside her jacket to retrieve the Westar-34 from the concealed shoulder holster she wore beneath it. Though her attention didn't leave the receptionist as she did this, her head shifted to focus on whoever occupied the room beyond.

Coming to a stop against the wall that left the receptionist's desk in plain sight, her voice was pitched to carry through the closed doors, accompanied by the solid thunk of metal against metal as she "knocked" on the door with her left knee. "You in the next room. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands above your head." An internal wince followed the cliche-ness of her words, but this was accompanied by a mental shrug. Force of habit, she knew, and since the words had already been said...might as well go with it and see what happened next.

Serinn's aggressive door-opening skills was replied with a large bellow, some beast with great lung capacity. Whatever it was, the restraints holding it down to the table seamed to be of little notice as rippling grey-blue muscle snapped them and tossed the slender pale man from a straddling position. Tools and trays were sent flying; a jar with a brain still sloshing within was sent flying through the entry doors, getting awfully close to Serinn's own head. The whole floor shook as the human-like creature created its own exit by smashing through the nearest wall, dust and bits of debris joining the aerial calamity.

"It looks like the doctor is finished with his patient. He will see you now." Apparently oblivious to even the lights swaying above her head in the aftermath of a monster's escape, the cheerful cyborg continued her typing as she piped up. "Good luck, miss. I'll go ahead and prepare your paperwork."

-----

What remained of the examination room could easily be described as a disaster. Dust from cracked concrete kept the air thick, and dangling lights blinked in and out while casting shadows over tables and tools. Aside from the buzz of torn fixtures and the last bits of building stuff finally to suffer the damage, everything was quiet. The stillness was finally interrupted by a weak cough.

"Log for Patient: Koenig - It appears that subject's synapses are fully connected, but reaction to trauma-therapy was more aggressive than predicted. Possible tranquilizer dosage was too diluted." Anon Nona coughed again from his hiding spot behind the counter, still missing from view. "Will contact Mister Koenig about outstanding balance. End log."

Serinn could likely hear the struggle for movement from the doctor. It sounded like he was dragging himself with great effort. "Um, hello? Please be a dear and fetch my legs." To Serinn's far side, a pair of legs were feebly making the motions of walking while laying on the ground. The gore matter protruding from the top looked like meat, but had an odd silver twinkle and the exposed bone almost had a plastic likeness to it.

Taking note of the bellow even though she could not yet see the source of the noise, Serinn reflexively jerked back in a movement that may have seemed a touch faster then normal to any onlookers, though it escaped her notice. And then the impact in the next room forced her to plant her feet in an even more balanced stance then they had been in, to stay upright. Sparing a moment to glance in the receptionist's direction as she spoke, a slight inclination of one pale brow was her only reaction before moving through the shattered, jagged-edged doors. Taking note of the spastically-flickering lights, the blaster-armed woman proceeded further into the room, taking care to watch where her feet were going.

The cough was the first clue to hint at survivors, and the Hapan-born Corellian's attention focused entirely on the direction the noise, and the words that followed it, had come from. Beginning to move towards it, carefully maneuvering around, over, and through the debris that now littered the room, the request that came next made both her eyebrows lift this time. Catching movement out of the corner of her eyes, blond hair shifted as the lone woman's head turned towards the cause, and saw the twitching body parts. Holstering the Westar-34 in the shoulder holster it had come from, it was a matter of minutes before she had muscled them over to Anon's location.